how do you do your best work

[Milhouse]

The other day, after hearing more about process and procedures and such, I started thinking about when I have done my best work. I remember days when solutions to complex problems would just come to me, sometimes in the middle of the night, snapping me awake and I'd work furiously for a period of time almost as if the whole thing was effortless.

Naturally, that kind of behavior isn't easily reproducible, so it is looked down upon by many. Instead, it seems the preferred corporate way of doing work is to create some kind of process and procedures, to ensure at least a consistent level of work (not necessarily high quality) that can be accomplished relatively quickly (or at least within a given timeframe).

While I'm not entirely opposed to processes (the scientific method is my friend), I do feel that when under a huge set of constraints, and forced processes, I certainly am not producing the most elegant, robust, creative, high quality solutions that I could otherwise. I am, however, producing, good quality, efficient solutions.

So, I ask you: how do you do your best work? Tightly controlled processes or more of a creative free for all? Maybe somewhere in between?

 

[Go Surface]

Isolation.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by GoSurface

Isolation.

The question was "how do you do your best work" not "describe your sex life in one word."

 

[Milhouse]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

The question was "how do you do your best work" not "describe your sex life in one word."

Maybe those questions are one and the same in his case.

 

[Thomas]

it depends. Some days it comes easily and other days it does not, and I can't find a correlation that relates to work environment.

 

[JetBlast]

With Anne Hathaway.

 

[adamsnez]

when im listening to music - i HAVE to. state dependant learning.
i study my notes to music, so i write my tests to music. i listen to music in class.
i go into fail mode during certain exams and a teacher says "not in my exam mister..."

edit: 101 posts. i have now unlocked the CurrentEvents portal with 101manna points and skull caps ('08 F/W edition of course)

 

[hossoso]

on my back.

 

[emptym]

Kwilk!

Originally Posted by Milhouse

... So, I ask you: how do you do your best work? Tightly controlled processes or more of a creative free for all? Maybe somewhere in between?
I think it's a process.

First I follow "tightly controlled processes" of preparation, and then I let go have a "creative free for all." Plus, prayer throughout the process, particularly when I haven't put in enough hard work in the controlled section. I once told a friend I'd finished something "by the skin of my teeth and the grace of God," and he said that should be on my tombstone.

 

[emptym]

Kwilk!

Originally Posted by Milhouse

...
So, I ask you: how do you do your best work? Tightly controlled processes or more of a creative free for all? Maybe somewhere in between?
I think it's a process.

First I follow "tightly controlled processes" of preparation, and then I let go have a "creative free for all."

Plus, prayer throughout the process. I once told a friend I'd finished something "by the skin of my teeth and the grace of God," and he said that should be on my tombstone.

 

[willy]

I would say a combination of the two...creatively structured...but yes...most of my ideas come to me right before I fall asleep

 

[AntiHero84]

With copious amounts of coffee.

 

[visionology]

Under pressure and late at night

 

[Connemara]

With a bourbon in my hand and a mouth on my kack.